Cornstarch is high in calories and carbs but low in essential nutrients. It may also increase blood sugar levels and harm heart health. Unfortunately, cornstarch is not safe to eat straight out of the box. Raw cornstarch, just like other raw ingredients, may contain harmful bacteria that could do severe harm. Plus, cornstarch is a non-nutritive, high-caloric food item.
Eating Raw Cornstarch Side Effects
Eating cornstarch raw may lead to digestive symptoms like gas and bloating. Heating starches during cooking helps break them down, making them easier to digest.
Cooking cornstarch into recipes also ensures any harmful bacteria it may have come into contact with are killed, which will diminish your risk of getting a foodborne illness. Typically, a recipe will call for one to two tablespoons of cornstarch.
Best Way to Eat Cornstarch
Though it lacks nutrition, cornstarch is a highly multifunctional product. A safe way to eat cornstarch is by incorporating it into dishes — it acts as a great thickener in recipes for sauces, soups, stews, and curries.
Because cornstarch is gluten-free, it can serve as an alternative to wheat flour in recipes for people with celiac disease or gluten intolerance. But, there are also more nutritious gluten-free flour options, such as oat flour, which has significantly more fiber, protein, and minerals than cornstarch.
